296-876-099Definitions.

Cage. An enclosure that encircles the climbing space of a fixed ladder. It is fastened to the ladder side rails or to the structure and may also be called a cage or basket guard.

Cleat. A ladder crosspiece used in climbing or descending. Also called a step or rung.

Equivalent. Alternative design, material, or method to protect against a hazard. You have to demonstrate it provides an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the method, material, or design specified in the rule.

Extension ladder. A nonself-supporting portable ladder consisting of two or more sections. The sections travel in guides or brackets that allow the length of the ladder to be changed. The size is designated by the sum of the lengths of each section, measured along the side rails.

Failure. The ladder or ladder component loses the ability to carry the load, breaks, or separates into component parts.

Fastenings. Devices to attach a ladder to a structure, building, or equipment.

Fixed ladder. A ladder permanently attached to a structure, building, or equipment.

Grab bars. Handholds placed adjacent to or as an extension above ladders for the purpose of providing access beyond the limits of the ladder.

Job-made ladder. A ladder that is made, not commercially manufactured, to fit a specific job situation. They are for temporary use until a particular phase of construction is completed or until permanent stairways or fixed ladders are ready to use.

Individual-rung/step ladder. A fixed ladder consisting of individual steps or rungs mounted directly to the side or wall of the structure, building, or equipment.

Ladder. A device having steps, rungs, or cleats that can be used to climb or descend.

Ladder safety device. Any device, other than a cage or well, designed to arrest the fall of a person using a fixed ladder.

Ladder type. The designation that identifies the maximum intended load (working load) of the ladder. Ladder types are as follows:

Duty Rating

Ladder

Type

Use

Maximum Intended Load (pounds)

Extra Heavy-Duty

IA

Industry, utilities, contractors

300

Heavy-Duty

I

Industry, utilities, contractors

250

Medium-Duty

II

Painters, offices, light maintenance

225

Light-Duty

III

General household use

200

Landing. Any area such as the ground, roof, or platform that provides access or egress to a ladder.

Maximum intended load. The total load of all persons, equipment, tools, materials, transmitted loads, and other loads reasonably anticipated to be applied to a ladder or ladder component at any one time. Sometimes referred to as working load.

Pitch. The included angle between the horizontal and the ladder, measured on the opposite side of the ladder from the climbing side.

Portable ladder. A ladder that can be readily moved or carried.

Reinforced plastic. A plastic that has high-strength fillers embedded in the base resin to increase strength.

Reinforced plastic ladder. A ladder whose side rails are reinforced plastic. The crosspieces, hardware, and fasteners may be made of metal or other suitable material.

Rung. A ladder crosspiece used in climbing or descending. Also called a cleat or step.

Side-step ladder. A fixed ladder that requires a person to step to the side of the ladder side rails to reach the landing.

Single ladder. A nonself-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of one section. The size is designated by the overall length of the side rail.

Single-rail ladder. A portable ladder with crosspieces mounted on a single rail. Single-rail ladders are prohibited from use.

Special-purpose ladder. A portable ladder that is made by modifying or combining design or construction features of the general-purpose types of ladders in order to adapt the ladder to special or specific uses.

Step. A ladder crosspiece used in climbing or descending. Also called a cleat or rung.

Stepladder. A self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, with flat steps and hinged at the top. The size is designated by the overall length of the ladder measured along the front edge of the side rails.

Through ladder. A fixed ladder that requires a person to step between the side rails of the ladder to reach the landing.

Trestle ladder. A self-supporting portable ladder, nonadjustable in length, consisting of two sections hinged at the top to form equal angles with the base. The size is designated by the length of the side rails measured along the front edge.

Well. A walled enclosure around a fixed ladder that provides a person climbing the ladder with the same protection as a cage.

Working length. The length of a nonself-supporting ladder, measured along the rails, from the base support point of the ladder to the point of bearing at the top.

296-876-20005Design and construction.

Important:

Design and construction requirements of this section do not apply to special purpose ladders.

(1) You must make sure portable ladders and job-made wooden ladders manufactured on or after January 1, 2006, meet the design and construction requirements and specifications of the appropriate American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard:

(a) ANSI A14.1-2000, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Wood-Safety Requirements.

(b) ANSI A14.2-2000, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Metal-Safety Requirements.

(2) You must make sure portable ladders manufactured before January 1, 2006, meet the design and construction requirements and specifications of the appropriate ANSI standard in effect on the date of manufacture:

(a) ANSI A14.1, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Wood-Safety Requirements.

(b) ANSI A14.2, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Metal-Safety Requirements.

296-876-30005Condition and inspection.

(1) You must keep portable ladders in good, usable condition. Good, usable condition includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Joints between the steps or rungs and the side rails are tight.

(b) Rungs, cleats, or steps are not bent, broken, or missing.

(c) Side rails are not bent, broken, or split.

(d) All bolts and rivets are in place and secure.

(e) Hardware, fittings, and accessories are securely attached and working properly.

(f) Ropes are not frayed or badly worn.

(g) Moveable parts operate freely without binding or excessive play.

(h) Safety feet and other auxiliary equipment are not excessively worn.

(i) Metal components are not corroded.

(j) There are no other faulty or defective components.

(2) You must make sure wood ladders are not coated with an opaque covering except for the minimum amount necessary for identification and warning information which may be placed on one face only of a side rail.

(3) You must have a competent person inspect a ladder:

(a) When required by Table 1, Ladder Inspection Criteria; and

(b) After any other occurrence that could affect safe use.

(4) You must make sure any ladder with structural damage or other hazardous defect is:

(a) Marked to identify it as defective or tagged with "do not use" or similar language; and

(b) Removed from service.

Note:

Ladders subjected to certain acids or alkali materials may experience chemical corrosion and a reduction in strength. Consult the manufacturer or a qualified person prior to use.

Table 1

Ladder Inspection Criteria

When the ladder is:

Do the following:

First placed into service and periodically while in service

Inspect the ladder for visible defects, including, but not limited to:

1.

Working parts; and

2.

Rung or step connections to the side rails.

Damaged by impact or tips over

1.

Visually inspect the ladder for dents, bends, cracks or splits

2.

Check:

a.

Rung or step connections to the side rails.

b.

Hardware connections.

c.

Rivets for shear damage.

d.

All other components.

Exposed to excessive heat such as a fire

1.

Visually inspect the ladder for damage.

2.

Test for deflection and strength characteristics using the "in-service use tests" contained in the appropriate ANSI.

EXEMPTION:

Job-made wooden ladders are not to be subjected to load or impact tests. Those tests may weaken lumber components or fasteners, causing hidden damage that could result in sudden failure during use.

296-876-30015Storage.

You must make sure material is not put on ladders in storage.

Note:

Store portable ladders on racks designed to protect them when not in use. The racks should have enough supporting points to prevent the ladder from sagging. Do not store wood ladders near sources of heat, moisture, or dampness.

296-876-40020Set-up.

(1) You must set up nonself-supporting ladders at a safe angle. The ladder is set at the proper angle when the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is approximately one-quarter the working length of the ladder.

(2) You must set up job-made ladders with spliced side rails so that the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is not greater than one-eighth the working length of the ladder.

296-876-40030Getting on and off ladders at upper levels.

(1) You must make sure a ladder used to access an upper level has the side rails extended at least three feet (0.9 m) above the landing surface if the ladder length permits.

(2) You must do the following if a ladder used to access an upper level is not long enough to obtain a three-foot side rail extension above the landing surface:

(a) Secure the ladder at the top to a rigid support that will not deflect.

(b) Provide a grasping device, such as a grabrail, to assist in mounting and dismounting the ladder.

(c) Make sure the ladder deflection under a load would not, by itself, cause it to slip off its support.

(3) You must make sure, if two or more separate ladders are used to reach an elevated work area, that the ladders are offset with a platform or landing between them.

EXEMPTION:

A platform or landing is not required when a portable ladder is used to reach a fixed ladder on structures such as utility towers and billboards where the bottom of the fixed ladder is elevated to limit access.

296-876-40035Exposed electrical hazards.

You must use ladders with nonconductive side rails where the ladder could contact uninsulated, energized electric lines or equipment. Metal ladders or other ladders specifically designed to permit grounding or dissipation of static electricity may be used around high-static electrical fields if all of the following are met:

(1) Using nonconductive ladders would present a greater hazard than using conductive ladders.

(2) Ladders are prominently marked and identified as being conductive.

(3) Ladders are grounded when used near energized lines or equipment.

Note:

Examples of ladders with conductive side rails are metal ladders, and wood or reinforced plastic ladders with metal side rail reinforcement.

296-876-40045Multisection ladders.

(1) You must make sure not to tie or fasten ladder sections together to make longer ladders unless:

(a) The ladder manufacturer endorses this type of use; and

(b) You have hardware fittings specifically designed for this purpose.

(2) You must make sure each section of a multisection ladder, when fully extended and locked in position to be used, overlaps the adjacent section as indicated in Table 2, Minimum Required Overlap for Extension Ladders.

296-876-50010Design and construction—Fixed ladders installed on or after December 1, 2006.

You must make sure fixed ladders installed on or after December 1, 2006, meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.3-2002, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements.

Note:

Ladders will be considered to have met the requirements of this section if they meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.3, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements, in effect at the time they are installed.

296-876-60005Design and construction—Fixed ladders installed before December 1, 2006.

You must make sure fixed ladders installed before December 1, 2006, meet the requirements of WAC 296-876-60010 through 296-876-60080.

Note:

Ladders will be considered to have met the requirements of this section if they meet the design and construction requirements of ANSI A14.3, American National Standard for Ladders-Fixed-Safety Requirements, in effect at the time they are installed.

296-876-60010Design loads.

(1) You must make sure each ladder is able to support, without failure, the total of the following loads:

(a) At least two loads of two hundred and fifty pounds each, concentrated between any two consecutive attachments.

(b) Any additional concentrated loads of two hundred and fifty pounds each determined from the anticipated use of the ladder.

(c) Anticipated loads caused by all of the following that apply:

(i) Ice buildup.

(ii) Winds.

(iii) Rigging attached to the ladder, including the load to be lifted.

(iv) Impact loads resulting from the use of ladder safety devices.

(2) You must make sure the design of rails, supports, and fastenings includes:

(a) Live loads to be supported by the ladder; and

(b) The weight of the ladder and everything attached to it.

(3) You must consider all live loads to be concentrated at the point or points that will cause the maximum stress on the ladder or structural member.

(4) You must make sure each step or rung is capable of supporting a single concentrated load of at least two hundred fifty pounds applied in the middle of the step or rung.

(5) You must make sure the design stresses for wood components of ladders meet the requirements and specifications of ANSI A14.1, American National Standard for Ladders-Portable Wood-Safety Requirements, in effect when the ladder was installed.

(6) You must make sure fastenings are designed to meet the ladder load requirements.

296-876-60015Pitch.

You must make sure the pitch of the ladder is no greater than ninety degrees from the horizontal.

Notes:

1. The preferred pitch of fixed ladders is within the range of seventy-five to ninety degrees from the horizontal. Ladders with a pitch range of sixty to seventy-five degrees from the horizontal are considered substandard and are only permitted if necessary to meet the installation requirements.

2. Fixed stairs are an alternative for installations where a pitch angle of less than sixty degrees is necessary. See Fixed industrial stairs, WAC 296-24-765, in the General Safety and Health Standards, chapter 296-24 WAC.

296-876-60030Rungs, cleats and steps.

(1) You must make sure rungs have a minimum diameter as follows:

(a) Rungs of wood ladders are at least one and one-eighth inches.

(b) Rungs of metal ladders subject to unusually corrosive exposures, such as individual metal rungs imbedded in concrete which serve as access to pits and to other areas under floors, are at least one inch.

(c) Rungs of all other metal ladders are at least three-quarters inch.

(2) You must make sure rungs, cleats, and steps are all of the following:

(a) Parallel.

(b) Level.

(c) Uniformly spaced throughout the length of the ladder.

(d) Spaced so the distance from the centerline of one rung to the centerline of the next rung does not exceed twelve inches.

Exception:

The vertical distance from the ground, floor, or roof at the access level to the first rung may be adjusted within a range of fourteen inches.

(3) You must make sure the minimum inside clear width of the stepping surface of rungs, steps, or cleats is sixteen inches.

(4) You must make sure individual rung or step-type ladders have rungs or steps that are shaped so that a person's foot cannot slide off the end.

296-876-60040Clearances.

(1) You must make sure ladders without wells or cages are at least thirty inches from the nearest permanent object on the climbing side, measured perpendicular to the ladder from the centerline of the rungs, cleats, or steps.

EXEMPTION:

When unavoidable obstructions are encountered, the minimum perpendicular clearance between the centerline of the rungs, cleats, or steps and an obstruction on the climbing side may be reduced to twenty-four inches if a deflection device is installed to guide persons around the obstruction.

(2) You must make sure ladders without wells or cages have a clear width from the nearest permanent object on each side of the ladder of at least fifteen inches, measured from the center of the rungs, cleats, or steps.

(3) You must make sure the distance from the centerline of the rungs, cleats, or steps to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder is at least seven inches.

EXEMPTION:

Fixed ladders in elevator pits may reduce the minimum clearance from the ladder to the nearest permanent object in back of the ladder to four and one-half inches.

296-876-60045Step-across distance.

(1) You must make sure a through ladder at the point of access or egress has a step-across distance, measured from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest edge of the landing area, that is:

(a) Not less than seven inches; or

(b) Greater than twelve inches.

(2) You must make sure a side-step ladder at the point of access or egress has a step-across distance, measured from the side rail of the ladder to the nearest edge of the landing area, that is:

296-876-60055Hatches.

(1) You must make sure counterbalanced hatch covers open at least seventy degrees from the horizontal.

(2) You must make sure the inside clear width of the hatch is a nominal thirty inches.

(3) You must make sure the distance from the centerline of the rungs or cleats to the edge of the hatch opening on the climbing side, measured perpendicular to the ladder, is:

(a) Not less than twenty-four inches; or

(b) Greater than thirty inches.

(4) You must make sure hatches with clearance on the climbing side of the ladder that is between twenty-four and twenty-seven inches are fitted with a deflector plate mounted at an angle of sixty degrees from the horizontal.

Note:

The springs or other counterbalance mechanisms for the hatch may project into the hatch opening provided they do not reduce clearance to less than twenty-four inches and a deflector plate is installed to guide persons around the obstruction.

296-876-60060Platforms.

(1) You must make sure landing platforms for side-step ladders extend at least thirty inches on the climbing side of the ladder.

(2) You must make sure landing platforms are:

(a) At least thirty inches wide; and

(b) Equipped with standard railings and toeboards placed to allow safe access to the ladder.

Reference:

Requirements for standard railings and toeboards are in Railing, toeboards, and cover specifications, WAC 296-24-75011, the General Safety and Health Standards, chapter 296-24 WAC.

(3) You must make sure the top rung or step of the ladder is level with the landing served by the ladder.

(4) You must make sure the spacing from the landing platform to the first rung below the platform of a through ladder is the same as the rung spacing of the ladder.

(5) You must make sure, if two or more separate ladders are used to reach an elevated work area, that the ladders are offset with a platform or landing between them.

EXEMPTION:

A platform or landing is not required when a portable ladder is used to reach a fixed ladder on structures such as utility towers and billboards where the bottom of the fixed ladder is elevated to limit access.

During construction activities, a self-retracting lifeline with landing platforms provided at maximum intervals of one hundred fifty feet may be used instead of a ladder safety device or multiple ladder sections.

296-876-60075Wells.

(1) You must make sure there is at least twenty-seven inches, but not more than thirty inches, from the centerline of the step or rung to the inside face of the well on the climbing side of the ladder.

(2) You must make sure the inside clear width is at least thirty inches.

(3) You must make sure the well:

(a) Completely encircles the ladder; and

(b) Is free of projections.

(4) You must make sure the bottom of the wall on the access side is at least seven feet, but not more than eight feet, above the point of access to the bottom of the ladder.

296-876-70005Protection against corrosion and deterioration.

(1) You must paint or otherwise treat metal ladders or metal parts to resist rust and corrosion if they are:

(a) Exposed to the elements; or

(b) Located where rust or corrosion could be expected.

(2) You must treat wood ladders used in conditions where decay may occur with a nonirritating preservative.

(3) You must make sure wood ladders are not coated with an opaque covering except for the minimum amount necessary for identification and warning information which may be placed on one face only of a side rail.

(4) You must treat the interface between different materials or use other means to prevent:

(a) One material from damaging or having a harmful effect on another material; and